Page 59 of Claiming His Rejected Mate

“Alpha,” Ian’s voice calls from the other side. “We have a situation.”

I let her go reluctantly, my gaze lingering on as she wraps her arms around herself. I can’t tell what she’s thinking.

“I’ll be back.” My voice is low, almost pleading. I should be speaking to her, updating her on what’s going on. But there isn’t much time.

“Don’t bother,” she snaps, but the way her voice wavers betrays her.

“It’s important. Damon escaped. He—”

“I don’t care, Kieran. Just leave. Go tend to your pack like you always do.”

I hesitate for a moment, my wolf snarling in frustration, before turning and leaving the room. I need to make sure the estate is secure. I can't risk anything happening to her. Not again. Not while I am alive.

Ian stands in the hallway, his expression tense. “The guards spotted movement near the southern border. It could be rogues.”

My fists clench, I can still feel her even as my focus shifts. “I want every inch of the border secured.”

He nods, but his gaze flicks toward the door I just left. “Is everything...okay?”

“Handle the patrols,” I snap, my tone leaving no room for questions.

As Ian hurries off, I take a moment to steady myself, the echo of Hazel’s touch still burning on my skin.

Chapter 19

Kieran

The sound of Ayana’s boots echoes off the stone walls of my office as she strides in without waiting for an invitation to come in. The guards come after her, but I gesture for him to leave us.

Her expression is a blend of exasperation and curiosity, her sharp eyes assessing me like she’s trying to solve a puzzle that’s gone unsolved for too long.

She doesn’t sit. Instead, she leans against the edge of my desk, arms crossed. She has the stance of one who has not been under an Alpha’s authority and does not intend to be.

But surprisingly, my wolf is not bothered by her, even though he is usually wary of strangers.

“You summoned me,” she says dryly. “To talk about Hazel, I assume.”

I nod, gesturing for her to sit, but she stays rooted in place.

Her presence feels like an open challenge, and my wolf stirs slightly, though I force him to stay calm. He is not bothered by her, but he will not tolerate disrespect. Ayana isn’t a threat. She’s Hazel’s anchor, hershield, and possibly the only person who can help me really get through to her, as I knew next to nothing about her.

“What do you want to know, Alpha?” she asks, her tone clipped, her eyes narrowed. She’s not very pleased about being here.

I lean back in my chair, trying to find the right words. “Tell me about her. Before all of this. Before…me.”

Ayana raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “What’s the point of digging into the past? You’ve already done enough damage in the present.” She doesn’t sound as hostile as she did the first night we met, but her hesitance toward me is still there.

I flinch at her bluntness, but I deserve it. I know I do. “Humor me, please,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “I need to understand.” I pause, and my jaw tightens. “I need to know how to get through to her. I don’t want to keep breaking her heart. I should be speaking with Hazel, but she doesn't trust me. Her guard against me is impenetrable.”

She studies me for a moment, her gaze searching mine like she’s looking for an ulterior motive.

“I need your help, Ayana,” I add. It is unlike me to beg, but for Hazel, I'll do anything.

Ayana sighs and pushes herself off my desk.

“Hazel was…different,” she begins, her voice softer now. “Before everything fell apart. She was the kind of person who could walk into a room and make everyone feel seen, like they mattered. She had this way of making even the most mundane tasks seem exciting. And she didn’t just exist—she thrived. She pushed herself, pushed others, always aiming higher, way before she got in contact with her wolf. Even though I met her only when she was demoted to Omega status, I knew of her.”

She sighs, looking down at her hands.

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